Power device.



T. A. MACDONALD.

POWER DEVICE.

APPLICATION rum) MAB. 1. 1910.

Patented June 13, 1911.

7 0 3 y M b #2 m 1 l 4 ma m (L k a v 6 1 m VENTOR omjziflhopa/w ATTORNEYS THOMAS A. MACDONALD, OF CLIFTON, NEW JERSEY.

POWER DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 13, 1911.

Application filed March 1, 1910. Serial No. 546,731.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS A. MACDON- ALD, a subject of the King of Great Britain, and a resident of Clifton, in the county of Passaic and State of New Jersey, United States of America, have made certain new and useful Improvements in Power Devices, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to means for utilizing the power of steam, air or other media, and it consists in the combinations, constructions and arrangements herein described. and claimed.

An object of my invention is to provide a device in which a maximum power is generated from a minimum expenditure of en- A further object of my invention is to provide a wheel or a plurality of wheels each consisting of a number of blades of particular shape, whereby the motive fluid which is designed to drive the blades is utilized to the fullest extent.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following specification and the novel features of the device will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a vertical section through the device showing the arrangement of the wheels. Fig. 2 is a front view of one of the wheels showing its attachment to the central drum. Fig. 3 is a detail view in perspective showing the preferred means of attaching the blades to the drum, and Fig. 4 is a similar view showing a modified means for attaching the blades.

In carrying out my invention I provide a main casing 1 of the shape shown in the figure. This casing is preferably closed at one end by a head 2, and at the other end communicates directly with the boiler 3.

Disposed centrally of the casing is a shaft 41. One end of this shaft has a bearing 5. Secured to the head 2 is a stuffing box 2 through which the shaft passes. The opposite end of the shaft 4 is borne by a spider 6 which is located centrally of an opening 7 from the boiler 8 into the interior of the casing 1.

Secured to the shaft by means of the spokes or arms 9 is a drum 10. This drum is closed at both ends. The drum c0nstitutes a common hub for a number of power wheels. These wheels are arranged as shown in Fig. 1, and consist of a series of blades secured to the periphery of the drum. Each blade consists of an inclined body portion 11 having an inclined end flange 11 and an inclined side flange 11 From an inspection of Fig. 2 it will be noted that the outer portion of the end flange is cut in the form of an arc. These arcs terminate at a point 11 short of the side flange of the adjacent blade, leaving a space 11*. The edges of the side flanges 11 he on radial lines as shown in Fig. 2 and the end flanges and a portion of the plain surface 11 is cut away so as to conform to the circular interior of the cylinder.

The fastening of the plates to the drum 10 is clearly shown in Fig. 3. In this figure the drum is shown as consisting of sections of boiler plate riveted together. Secured around the drum 10 is a ring or band composed of two sections 12 and 12 riveted together at their abutting flanges 12. This band is provided with an offset 12 arranged to engage the shoulder 10 formed by the overlapping plate. This prevents the band 12 from rotating on the drum. Rivetecl to the band 12 are the brackets 13 and 14: having the upwardly extending L-shaped flanges 18 and 14*, between which the ends of the side member 11 and the body portion 11 are held by means of rivets or. in any other suitable manner.

In Fig. 4 I have shown a modified construction in which the body portion 11 and the side flange 11 are secured to an L-shaped flange 15 of a plate 15. The latter is socured to the band 12 by means of rivets.

In Fig. 1, I have shown four of the wheels constructed as described, but it will be understood that any suitable number might be.

used. Where a plurality of wheels are used I prefer to use inlet pipes 16 and 17 leading from the boiler 8 and inclined at an anglewit-h the casing 1 and so arranged as to deliver steam to the wheels farthest away from the boiler. The exhaust pipe is shown at 18.

From the foregoing description of the various parts of the device the operation thereof may be readily understood.

The steam, entering the opening 7 from the boiler, encounters the blades successively. The peculiar construction of the blades renders them of the nature of pressure wheels and turbines combined. Owing to the fact that the blades are inclined in the manner shown in the drawing, the action of the steam will cause the blades to be driven around with very little loss of power. The

wheels are in close contact with the inner sides of the casing 1 and the full force; of the steam is therefore used in turning the blades. As soon as the steam has operated on one wheel, it is free to operate on the next wheel. The space l1 gives anopportunity for the steam to pass from one wheel to the next one after it has exerted all of the force it is capableof,in-turningthe wheel. Obviously as the steam. progresses its 'for'ce will become less,'and in order to= give the last wheels in the set an additional impulse, I make use of the side delivery pipes 16 and 17 which'deliver live steam to the wheels thus adding to their turning power. After the "steam has passed all'of the wheels it escapes throughthe exhaust opening 18.

The arrangement, of the type described above, is particularly eflicient, since there is no'wasteof steampower. The shape of the blades renders the passage of the steam from one to the otherparticularlyadvantageous inturning thewheels,without any back action. This is du'e'in themain as stated before, to the shape'iof theblades. It "willbe noticed that the-side flanges form obtuse angles with the b'o'dyportion of the blade, that the end flanges form obtuse angleswith the body portion ofthebladefand that both the side and end flanges form obtuse angles with each other. Moreover, the free edges of the flanges a're beveled on the inside, while' the outside of these flanges is a plain surface. This leaves a sharp edge which meets the on-coming steam andcauses a greater bearing surface without presenting a resisting edgewhich will'not add to the turning efiect.

I claim:

1. In ap'ower device, a casing, a boiler communicating directly therewith at one end, a drum rotatably disposed within'said casing one of the bearings for said "drum being the wall of the boiler, a series of wheels arranged upon said drum, the edges of said wheels contacting with the interior of the casing, means for admlttmg steam through the wall of the boiler and an exhaust at the other end.

adjacent blade.

3.111 a power device, a' casing, a drum rotatably mounted within said casing, said drum comprising a series of longitudinal strips'riveted'together, a band-arranged to fit over said drum and having an o flset adaptedtoengage the edges of the overlapping blades 'forpreventing the rotation of the band, a series of opposed brackets riveted to said band and a series of blades carried 1 between E the opposed brackets, each blade comprising a body portion, aninclined side flange and an inclined end flange, the edge of said inclined flange being disposed radially of the drum and the edge of sald end flange being cut on an arc tocontact with the cylindrlca-l lnterior of the drum.

4. In a power device, a cas1ng,-a boller communicating therewith at one end, ashaft disposed centrally 'within said casing, a

closed drum carried by said shaft, a series of wheels carried by said drum, theedges of said wheels-being in-c1ose proximity to said casing, an exhaust outlet at theend of the casing oppositethe boiler opening, and auxiliary pipes leading'from said boilerand communicating with the interior of; said casing, said pipes being inclined to deliver live steam to certain ofsai'd wheels.

THOMAS A. 'MACDONALD.

lVitnesses:

"L. A. STANLEY,

SoLoN G. KEMoN.

Copies of this patent-maybe obtained for five cents each,'by addressing the Commissioner "of Patents,

'washington, D. C. 

